Paperless

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F a s t

In Julia's eyes, the only good thing about Saturdays is that Bently wasn't ever home. Whenever she reminisced of his name, the hair on the nape of her neck stood up.

He had caught her on the grape farm the other day. She didn't notice he was there until one of his friends pointed her out. The memory of his enraged face still sent chills down her spine. He always got that look in his eye, right before he did the damage. Never did Julia see Bently's belt come off so fast. He'd swing at her ankles until she reached inside the house. He had no shame even with his friends outside the house. He yanked her by her blonde hair before bending her over the couch. Mother was upstairs, apparently peacefully sleeping. So fast asleep, she couldn't hear the cries and each crackle of the belt ripple down onto Julia's bare skin.

Julia woke up early that morning to avoid her mother. She had slipped on a dark navy blue dress with a white collar that she folded down. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. She turned to see the three welts that her dress left hidden. The mark of the beast. They were now a light blue instead of the painful scarlet red.

She sucked in her breath at the thought of anymore. It seemed to no avail that she couldn't avoid a good beating every week. It was always something. She back talked too much. She didn't use her manners at the church meetings on Wednesdays. Or she gave Bentley a hard time. God forbid if she did anything wrong to Bentley. He was their only God-sent son due to the fact that mother could no longer conceive a child.

Julia shook the thought of him out of her mind. She slipped on some shoes before quietly leaving the house. It was a sunny day, but they predicted it would rain. She peered up to the blue skyline. There wasn't a cloud in sight.

She peered at the empty vineyard. No one worked on Thursdays. She didn't know why but she didn't bother to ask father either. She trailed through the vineyard and collected some grapes along the way.

She popped them into her mouth and took the back way towards town. She past the schoolyard and the dreadful building. She would be starting school in September. She hated it with all she had, but she did miss her friends.

She hurried into town and rushed to Mrs.Jane's store. She was running a little late like usual. She slipped through the door. Behind the counter, a red frizzy haired woman popped her head up. She smiled,"Julia! Late again!"

"Sorry, I don't do it on purpose," she chuckled.

Mrs Jane scurried over to the back. She lifted up three boxes filled with peonies and irises that stems needed to be cut. "We got an custom order today for a wedding that's coming up next Thursday." She said.

Julia's eyes widened at the beautiful sight of all the flowers. Mrs Jane laughed softly. She was a wild woman. When times were rough she always looked to Mrs Jane for a shoulder to cry on. Mrs Jane was in her mid fifties. She never married nor ever had kids. It was just her and her flower boutique.

"Do you think you can close tonight? My sister is in town today." Mrs Jane asked.

"Oh yeah, I got it." Julia said.

Mrs Jane was distracted once the bell hanging on the door chimed. A customer had walked in as she decided to go handled it. Julia looked closely through the receipt of the soon to be married couple.

Peonies were white and pure. It was a popular request amongst weddings planners. Julia began to rearrange the bouquet. She ease dropped on the customer and Mrs Jane.